Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials: Lil' Ed Williams (vocals, guitar); Michael Garrett (guitar, background vocals); James "Pookie" Young (bass guitar, background vocals); Kelly Littleton (drums).

In the vein of Chicago electric blues titans like Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers, Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials make raucous, blues-based party music fit to bring down the roof. FULL TILT (2008) finds Ed and Co. still going strong after 20-plus years. The leader's slide work and blistering leads are as hot as ever, and the rollicking rhythms of the Blues Imperials threaten to move hips and shake loose inhibitions. Guest appearances by horn and organ players round out this collection of boogies, slow-burn blues, and all-out rockers.

Slide guitarist Lil' Ed Williams & the Blues Imperials bring the energy of live performance to their sixth Alligator release Full Tilt.The highlights on this disc tend to reflect that of the album's title,especially the spirited cover versions of the Contours' "First I Look at the Purse," and Hound Dog Taylor's "Take Five," along with the originals "Hold That Train," "Candy Sweet," and "My Baby Moves Me." Lil' Ed's raucous guitar chops are at center stage on those tracks and the additional backing from horn players Eddie McKinley and David Basinger and pianist/organist Johnny Iguana add some extra kick. There are a few lukewarm tracks that are a bit too rote and, unfortunately, bring down the overall good-time party appeal of this disc. Still, any fan of Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, or electric modern blues in general, will want to add this to their collection. ~ Al Campbell

Dirty Linen (p.94) - "[A] gutsy, no-holds-barred set rooted in Chicago blues. Highly charged renditions of the Contours' 'First I Look at the Purse' and Hound Dog Taylor's 'Take Five' pay homage to early influences..."

Living Blues (p.47) - "Like Elmore James, Ed has the uncanny knack of delivering a ballad with the same intensity and relentless, high volume attack he brings to his uptempo material, yet nonetheless making it sound tender..."